Spreading of disks in a two-dimensional Galton board.

L. BRUNO; A. CALVO; I. IPPOLITO

European Physical Journal E - Soft Matter and Biological Physics

EDP Sciences

Año: 2003 vol. 11 p. 131 - 140

1292-8941

We report here an experimental and numerical study of the flow properties of disks driven by gravity through a hexagonal lattice of obstacles, i.e. a Galton board. During the fall, particles experience dissipative collisions that scatter them in random directions. A driven-diffusion regime can be achieved under certain conditions. A characteristic length of the motion and its dependence on geometrical parameters of the system is analyzed in the steady regime. The influence of collective effects on the dispersion process is investigated by comparison between single- and many-particle flows. The characterization of the dynamics and the diffusive properties of the flow in a system like a Galton board can be expanded to other granular systems, particularly static solid particle mixers and will give some insight in understanding granular mixing.